Manly coach Geoff Toovey is confident his players can shake off their pre-season rust in time for their testing start to the NRL season.

The reigning premiers continued their far from convincing pre-season form by sliding to a 26-12 World Club Challenge loss against a spirited Leeds outfit at Headingley on Friday.

The Sea Eagles lacked composure at crucial times in front of a vocal full house as the Rhinos romped to a convincing victory in a heated encounter.

Manly won’t have the home comforts of playing at Brookvale Oval for the opening five NRL rounds this season as the suburban ground is renovated.

“We’ve spoken about the first two or three games,” Toovey said.

“It is a difficult schedule but that is just the way it is and nothing we can do about it.

“It is difficult we play the Warriors over in New Zealand in a grand final rematch.

“Then five days later we are playing the Tigers on Friday night.

“It is a tough start.

“Our players have been training well and we think we are more than capable of winning both matches.”

The Sea Eagles open their season against the Warriors at Eden Park on March 4 before taking on the Wests Tigers five days later at Gosford.

In his first true test in the coaching hot seat following Des Hasler’s controversial departure to the Bulldogs, Toovey was bitterly disappointed with the loss.

He said his players must quickly reduce their error rate or find themselves in deep trouble this year.

“It is always hard being premiers the following year people tend to raise to the occasion trying to match you,” he said.

“It does take a little bit of juice out of you coming over here but that is part and parcel of it.”

Manly will be desperate to avoid a repeat of their disastrous start to their title defence in 2009.

Following the infamous season launch, the Sea Eagles lost their opening four matches of the season.

They clawed their way back only to be bounced out in the opening round of the finals by Melbourne.

After beating Leeds at Elland Road 28-20 in the WCC in 2009, Manly’s lack of sharpness was evident from the kickoff on Friday night as co-captain Jason King fumbled his side’s second touch of the ball.

Star Leeds winger Ryan Hall bagged a double and was named man of the match in a tough night for David Williams on the Wolfman’s return from a broken neck.

Leeds coach Brian McDermott praised his players for their try-line defence with the home side two players down for most of the second half.

“Some of the defence was as scruffy as anything,” he said.

“We had to do everything we could to keep them out, Sometimes it is like that on your own try line.

“It was brave and courageous.”